Back Plains, Queensland

Last updated

Back Plains
Queensland
Back Plains landscape, 2023.jpg
Back Plains landscape, 2023
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Back Plains
Coordinates 27°54′00″S151°47′00″E / 27.9°S 151.7833°E / -27.9; 151.7833 (Back Plains (centre of locality))
Population104 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density2.600/km2 (6.73/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4361
Area40.0 km2 (15.4 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s) Condamine
Federal division(s) Maranoa
Suburbs around Back Plains:
Felton South Felton Nobby
Felton South Back Plains Mount Molar
Ellangowan Ellangowan Ryeford

Back Plains is a rural locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. [2] In the 2021 census, Back Plains had a population of 104 people. [1]

Contents

History

John Bange's general store in Back Plains, circa 1930 John Bange's general store in Back Plains Queensland circa 1930.jpg
John Bange's general store in Back Plains, circa 1930

Settlement commenced in December 1872. The district was originally known as Clifton Homestead Area Back Plains, from which the present day locality takes its name. [3]

Some of the early farming families were the Naumanns, Rosselers and Lacks. [4]

Towing John Bange's glider for launching, Back Plains Clifton district, circa 1930 Towing John Bange's glider for launching, Back Plains Clifton district circa 1930.jpg
Towing John Bange's glider for launching, Back Plains Clifton district, circa 1930

Clifton Homestead Area School opened on 8 December 1879. It was renamed Back Plains State School in 1918. [3] [5] [6] [7]

St Paul's Church of England was dedicated on 12 February 1892 by Archbishop of Brisbane William Webber. The last service was conducted on 8 August 1943. In 1953 the church building was relocated to Nobby where it was re-established as St Paul's Church of England. [3] The last service at Nobby was conducted circa 11 May 1975. In 1979 the church building was relocated to 12 Jubb Street, Allora to become the Scots Presbyterian Church for those Presbyterians in the district who did not wish to become part of the Uniting Church of Australia. The church in Allora was dedicated on 26 July 1980 by Presbyterian Moderator Rt Rev F. White. [8] [9]

A machinery business operated in December 1892 to 1910. It built threshing machines and steam engines. [3]

A cheese factory was established in August 1896. It became a farmers' cooperative venture in 1910 and closed in 1915. [3]

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church opened on Sunday 26 May 1901. [3] It was a 40 by 36 feet (12 by 11 m) hardwood building in the Gothic style with a sacristy behind the altar. The cost of the building including furniture was about £500. [10] It was at 573 Clifton Back Plains Road ( 27°53′44″S151°48′17″E / 27.89546°S 151.80463°E / -27.89546; 151.80463 (Sacred Heart Catholic Church (former)) ). It was sold in 2002, [11] but, as of February 2024, the building remains on the site. [12]

Johann (John) Bange operated a general store from 1911 to 1924. [3] On 27 October 1935 at Clifton, Bange made his maiden flight in an enclosed-fuselage glider, which he designed and built himself. [3]

Back Plains Presbyterian Church opened on 16 October 1915. [3] [13]

Demographics

In the 2016 census, Back Plains had a population of 74 people. [14]

In the 2021 census, Back Plains had a population of 104 people. [1]

Education

Back Plains State School, 2023 Back Plains State School, 2023 01.jpg
Back Plains State School, 2023

Back Plains State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 874 Clifton-Pittsworth Highway ( 27°53′33″S151°47′03″E / 27.8926°S 151.7842°E / -27.8926; 151.7842 (Back Plains State School) ). [15] [16] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 17 students with 3 teachers (2 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent). [17]

There are no secondary schools in Back Plains. The nearest government secondary school is Clifton State High School in Clifton to the south-east. There is also a Catholic primary school in Clifton. [18]

Facilities

Back Plains Cemetery, 2015 Lorenz family plot, Back Plains Cemetery, 2015.jpg
Back Plains Cemetery, 2015

Back Plains Cemetery is on Naumann Road ( 27°54′43″S151°47′52″E / 27.9120°S 151.7979°E / -27.9120; 151.7979 (Back Plains Cemetery) ). [19] The earliest surviving headstones are from 1899. On 30 September 1944, the Clifton Shire Council became the trustee for the cemetery, which, following local government amalgamations over the years, is now managed by the Toowoowoomba Regional Council. The cemetery is open for burials. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Back Plains (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. "Back Plains – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 50089)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rees, Glyn (27 August 2016). "Back Plains set to celebrate". Warwick Daily News. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Cemetery locations, open hours and interment options: Back Plains". Toowoomba Regional Council . Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  5. "Back Plains School's 75th Anniversary". Warwick Daily News . No. 10, 969. Queensland, Australia. 8 October 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Our school". Back Plains State School. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  7. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
  8. "Closed Churches". Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  9. "Scots' Presbyterian Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  10. "NEW R.C. CHURCH". Darling Downs Gazette . Vol. XLIII, no. 9, 811. Queensland, Australia. 27 May 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2025 via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Holy Rosary Catholic Church | Back Plains". Queensland Religious Places Database. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  12. "Sacred Hearth Catholic Church (former)". Google Street View . February 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  13. "Back Plains Presbyterian Church | Back Plains". Queensland Religious Places Database. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  14. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Back Plains (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  15. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  16. "Back Plains State School". Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  17. "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  18. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government . Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  19. "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

Further reading